Method and Game Device for Conducting a Numbers Game

ABSTRACT

A game method and device is set forth where a player makes a wager and selects numbers from a field or universe of numbers as in Keno or the Lottery. The outcome numbers are selected and compared to the player&#39;s selections and any matches are indicated. Based upon the number of matches, the player may win a prize. The player may then select a second set, including any matches from the prior comparison, and play a second round. The second set is compared to the outcome set, matches are noted based upon the number of matches a prize may be awarded. Additional rounds may be played. At the conclusion of the game the outcome set is revealed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to wagering games. More specifically, thepresent invention includes methods and devices for conducting a wageringgame on numbers such as Keno, lottery, Bingo, or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The casino game of Keno is basically a numbers game like a lottery. Kenooriginated in China over 2000 years ago. The Chinese game incorporated120 characters from which a wagering player could select the requiredselection set, e.g. six characters. The game was imported into theUnited States in the 1980s and was modified to the game of today wherethere is a field of numbers, 1-80, from which a player selects a desiredplayer selection set of numbers, e.g. 1 to 20 numbers. The player marksthe chosen numbers on a Keno ticket and makes a desired wager. From thefield the game operator randomly selects an outcome set for the game of20 numbers. The pay out to the player, if any, is based upon the amountwagered, the number of spots or numbers of the player's selection setand the total number of matches between the player selection set and thegame outcome set of numbers.

In Keno there are a number of manners to mark a ticket. The most commonmanner is referred to as a straight ticket. For a straight ticket, theplayer marks from 1 to 20 spots (numbers) on a Keno ticket. For exampleif the player marks 8 numbers, the Keno game may offer the pay scheduleshown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Matches (winning numbers) Pay out 0-4 0 (loss) 5 9 for 1 6 80for 1 7 1,480 for 1 8 25,000 for 1

A player can also play a “Way” ticket where groups of numbers areselected. For example the player could mark on a Keno ticket threegroups of 4 numbers to form, in essence, (i) three 4 spot tickets, (ii)three 8 spot tickets, and (iii) one twelve spot ticket, all on the sameWay ticket. Each Way requires a separate wager, e.g. one dollar for eachWay. This gives the player seven ways to win on a single Keno ticket.

In live Keno, the selection set of 20 numbers is selected using arotating cage or blower as is well known in the art. In video orelectronic Keno, an electronic device receives a player's wager andreceives the player's selections of his/her spots (usually limited to 10numbers). A random number generator selects an outcome set of 20numbers. A controller or processor compares the outcome set to theselection set to determine if the player has won or lost.

Live Keno has a mathematical edge (vigourish) in favor of the house inthe range of 15-25%. This vigourish is considerably larger than otherlive or “pit” games such as Roulette (5.4%). The high vigourish isrequired to cover the costs and expenses, including employee expensesfor Keno runners and game operating staff, in connection with the gameand the fact that most wagers on a Keno ticket are small. Video Keno mayincorporate a smaller vigourish since there are no employee expenses.

Lotteries, which are related to Keno in that they are basically a fixednumber straight ticket, date back to Italy circa 1530, which originateda “Pick 6 Lotto” where a player wagers and picks 6 numbers from a fieldof 49. In alternate versions, the field of numbers may bary vary. In aLottery, players buy tickets on a pari-mutual basis. At an appointedtime the Lottery administrator draws 6 numbers from the field of, forexample numbers 1-49, and players win if they have a predetermined setof numbers, e.g. 3 or more, that match the player's selected numbers.Unlike Keno the pay outs are not fixed, at least for the larger prizes,but instead are based upon the pari-mutual pool of wagers made on thegame, less any administrative costs, taxes, assessments or the like.Because Lotteries are pari-mutual in nature and it is rare that a playerwill hit 6 out of 6, often the jackpot is rolled over into successivegames resulting in super jackpots. It is the aspect of large jackpotsand super jackpots, sometimes in the range in some multi-state lotteriesin the United States of $80 million, that draws players to the game.

Keno and Lotteries are popular since they are simple and offer largeprizes which entice gamblers. A drawback, however, is that the gamesare, in a sense, one dimensional. Players select their numbers and waitfor the outcome set. There is no interactive strategy or play tomaintain the player's interest. A further drawback is that, because ofthe probabilities against winning, players often lose interest after aseries of consecutive losses. Still further, from the viewpoint of thecasino or lottery administrator, these draw single, small wagers whichnecessitate high vigourishes further leading players away from thegames.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is, therefor, set forth according to the present invention amethod and device to conduct a game in which a wager is received from aplayer and a selection set is selected from a universe of apredetermined number of indicia, e.g. 49 numbers 1-49. An outcome setconsisting of a predetermined number of indicia is selected from theuniverse. The outcome set and selection set are compared to determinematching indicia and, if a predetermined number of matches occur, anaward is issued to the player.

The method of the present invention additionally includes concealing theoutcome set from the player while showing matches from the selection setand subsequent to the comparison of the selection set and outcome set,selecting a second selection set including any matches from thecomparison of the selection set and outcome set. The indicia of thesecond selection set are compared to the outcome set to determine anyadditional matching indicia and if a predetermined number of matchesoccur between the outcome set and the second selection set issuing anaward to the player. After the play of the second selection set and thegame being over the method includes revealing the outcome set to theplayer for the player to confirm any matching and non-matching indicia.

According to other embodiments, the player may, after resolution of thesecond selection set, play one or more additional sets attempting toselect indicia which match the outcome set.

The method and device may be directed to games where numbers areselected such as Keno or a Lottery or other like types of games.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows for a Pick 6 Lotto, examples of pays and vigourishes(edges) for sequential plays according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows an electronic device for playing an exemplar of a gameaccording to the method of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a pay schedule for a Keno version of the game; and

FIG. 4 shows pays and vigourishes for a cumulative embodiment of thegame.

DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to the figures wherein like parts are referred toby like numerals throughout. Broadly, one embodiment of the presentinvention is directed to an electronic device and method for playing awagering game of the type where a wager is received from a player. Aplayer selection set of indicia, such as numbers from a game universefield of numbers, is received as input. An outcome set of numbers fromthe universe is randomly selected and compared to the player selectionset to determine if the player has won or lost his wager.

Line by Line

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, one embodiment of a method and deviceof the present invention is directed to a video Lottery, commonlyreferred to as “Pick 6” or “PIC 6 Lotto.” Referring first to FIG. 2, anelectronic device 10 includes a computer processor (not shown) tocontrol the operation and progress of the game housed in a housing 12which also mounts a video display 14. By touch screen technology on thedisplay 14 or disposed on the housing 12 in association with the display14, are buttons by which the player can control play according to themethod of the present invention. Also provided on the housing 14 (notshown) are means for receipt and acknowledgment of deposit of a wager bythe player to play the game. As is known in the art these wagering meansmay include a cash bill reader, credit card reader, token acceptor orother means by which the player may enter wagers. The accumulated amountavailable for wagering is noted by the processor and displayed ascredits, in a manner known to those skilled in the art. Thus to enter awager the player may touch Bet Credits button 16. To enter multiplecredits as wagers, the player would repetitively touch button 16. Tocash out accumulated credits, a cash out button 18 is provided which, ifdepressed, prompts the processor to issue pay outs of the accumulatedcredits to the player.

To play the PIC 6 Lotto for the device 10, the player enters a firstwager. To do so, the player depresses Bet 1 button 20 and, with button16, enters the desired wager to be initially made, e.g. 5 credits. Theplayer then selects his/her first player selection set of 6 numbers fromthe universe of numbers for the game. As shown in FIG. 2, the universefield of numbers includes the numbers 1 through 49. For example theplayer may select the numbers of 15, 32, 47, 1, 17 and 22 as the initialplayer selection set S1. This selection may be made by displaying at thedisplay 14 a matrix 22 of the universe of numbers and by the playertouching the touch screen display 14 over the desired number. Theplayer's initial selection set may be displayed in a player selectionmatrix 24 displayed above the matrix 22. As shown in FIG. 2, the playerselection matrix 24 has three rows denominated “Bet 1, Bet 2 and Bet 3”and 10 columns, six of which show the player's selection set(s) with theremainder showing the pay outs. With reference to the first row of thematrix 24 and the First Draw Table from FIG. 1, it is seen that if theplayer matches his six numbers of the first player selection set to thesix numbers drawn (as hereinafter described), he will receive a pay of1,000,000:1. If the player matches only 5 out of six, the pay out willbe 20,000:1, for 4 out of six the pay out would be 200:1 and for 3 outof six the pay out would be 15:1. For fewer than 3 matches, there is nopay out.

If the player, before play, wants to change his selection, he woulddepress the cancel button 26 which would cancel the selections for thefirst player selection set and permit the player to start over.

If the player is satisfied with his six numbers of the first selectionset, the player depresses the Start button 28 to start play. Theprocessor, using a random number generator program, randomly selects sixnumbers from the field of numbers 1-49 representing an outcome set ofnumbers. These numbers are not revealed to the player until the game isover. The processor also compares the outcome set of numbers to theplayer's first selection set S1 to determine if any numbers match. Forexample, if the outcome set of numbers were 5, 9, 17, 32, 37 and 49 (asyet unrevealed to the player), the processor would determine that two ofthe players first selection set S1 of numbers match the outcome set(numbers 17 and 32). In the Bet 1 row of the player selection matrix 24,a mark or other indicator would be provided under the numbers 17 and 32to indicate to the player that he had two hits (matches) from his firstselection set S1. The matching numbers may also be indicated in matrix22 by colors, flashing background or the like.

At this point, and with traditional Lottery, the game would be over andthe player would have lost the game. Receiving only two matches istypically determined to be a loss. According to the example of the payschedule for this embodiment of the present invention (First Draw Table)the first player selection set S1 was a loss. As described below,different pay schedules may be adopted.

According to the game of the present invention, however, the player hasthe option to place a second wager and to select a second selection setS2 including the numbers 17 and 32, which the player knows are containedin the outcome set. For purposes of illustration, it will be assumedthat the player enters a second wager by depressing Bet 2 button 32,wagers credits and selects a second player selection set S2 of thefollowing numbers 5, 32, 10, 36, 17 and 49 and depresses the Startbutton 28. The second selection set S2 would be displayed in the playerselection matrix 24. In this regard, the prior matching numbers of 17and 32 may be locked in so that the player is compelled to select priormatching numbers to avoid the player making a mistake. The processorwould compare the numbers of the second selection set S2 to the outcomeset of numbers and again note in the player selection matrix 24 anymatches. According to this example the player has four matches, numbers17, 32 (initial matching numbers), and new matching numbers 5 and 49.Based upon the Table for the Second Draw (FIG. 1), and the player havingfour matches, he has won a pay out of 15:1 (X2) based upon the aggregateamount of his first and second wagers.

At this point the player can opt to take his pay out or to place a thirdwager. If the player elects to cash out, they would depress a cash outbutton 18 and the payout would be made to the player. At the same timethe outcome set of numbers would be displayed at the matrix 22 for theplayer to see and confirm. If, instead, the player wishes to continueplay he can make a third wager by depressing the Bet 3 button 42 andentering the wager. The player, now knowing four of the six numbers (17,32, 5 and 49) of the outcome set, would select a third player selectionset S3 of numbers, for example, 5, 9, 17, 32, 35 and 49. The playerthird selection set S3 would be displayed at the player selection matrix24. Again, the prior matching numbers may be locked in so the playerdoes not make a mistake. By depressing the Start button 28, theprocessor compares the third player selection set S3 with the outcomeset as well as displays the outcome set at matrices 22 and 24. For theexample provided, the processor would note and display at the playerselection matrix 24 that the player has five matching numbers, 5, 9, 17,32 and 49. The matching numbers can be displayed as well on the matrix22. The player would win, based upon the aggregated first, second andthird wagers, a pay out of 50:1 (See the Table for the Third Draw, FIG.1).

As can be seen, the player has options of placing at least a secondwager and that the wagers may be based upon information concerning thepartial composition of the outcome set of numbers. Thus, multiple wagersmay be received for each game. Because multiple wagers can be received,the casino or administrator may reduce the per game vigourish providinghigher and/or more frequent pay outs to players as well as receivehigher revenues for the game by adjusting the pay schedule.

As can further be appreciated by comparing the Tables of FIG. 1, the payouts are reduced as more information may be imparted to the player. Thusthe overall vigourish for the game is maintained within desired limits.Pay outs may be adjusted to adjust the vigourish based upon theknowledge of the known matching numbers as the player wagers on at leasta second round.

There may also be game terminating outcomes, e.g. where the player hitssix out of six on the first draw to prevent the player from making thesecond and third wagers where winning is assured. Game termination mayalso occur if a second selection set does not yield an additionalwinning number match.

The foregoing game and method may also be applied to Keno where thefield of numbers is 1-80 and where the outcome set is twenty randomlyselected numbers from the field. With reference to FIG. 3, an example ofa pay schedule is provided for a game where the player selection set isfrom one to six numbers. FIG. 3 may represent the matrix 24 on theelectronic device 10. For example, if the player selects only onenumber, e.g. 15, and that number is in the twenty number outcome set,the player is paid 3:1 for the wager. If the player selection setincludes six numbers, the player would be paid based upon their firstwager and according to the number of matches referenced in the column ofFIG. 3 denoted “1st Selection.” The player (unless all six of thenumbers of the initial set are matched) can make a second wager and theplayer would be paid according to the second column denoted “2ndSelection” times the total amount of the aggregated first and secondwagers with that amount doubled. That is, if the player wagered fiveunits for both the first and second wagers and the first selectionresulted in three matches and the second selection resulted in fivematches the player would be entitled to thirty units (5 units×2 [basedon three matches in the first selection]+5 units×4 [based on fivematches in the second selection]=30 units).

According to this embodiment of the present invention, the amount won inany selection set is not jeopardized by placing an additional wager andmaking another selection.

With continuing reference to FIG. 3, the player can make up to foursuccessive selections. When the player does not improve the number ofmatches in any successive selection or matches all six numbers, the gameis over and the outcome set is revealed to the player. Alternatively, byadjusting the pay schedule, play may continue without improvement for apredetermined maximum number of games, noting that through eachsuccessive round as more information is imparted to the player, i.e.known matching numbers and known non-matching numbers, the pay schedulewill change to reflect the changing odds.

Cumulative

According to this embodiment (FIG. 4), the player commits initially towagering on successive selection sets, e.g. 15 units with 5 unitscommitted to the first selection set, 5 units to the second selectionset and 5 units to the third selection set. The player would make theselection of his/her first selection set S1 and any matches with theoutcome set (for example two matching numbers) are carried over to thesecond selection set S2 and the player can select the remaining numbersfor the second selection set (for example four numbers). This procedureis repeated for each set enabled by the player's initial wager.

The selection of selection set numbers can be made by the player or by arandom number generator. For example, the player may select the numbersof the first selection set and thereafter, for each successive enabledselection set, any non-matching numbers are replaced by randomlyselected numbers. Further, the game may provide for the player toallocate from the initial wager the amount of the wager to be attributedto the first, second or other selections sets.

Risk/Reward

According to this embodiment of the game, if the player elects to make asecond wager and attempts to make more matches with a second selectionset, they would surrender (forfeit) any prize won by the first selectionset. In effect they would be parlaying their prior winnings as the wagerfor the next selection set. In that any pay for the first selection setis surrendered by making a second wager, the pay schedule for pays inlater selection sets can be improved. As but an example, a pay schedulefor a PIC 6 Lotto according to this version may be as below in Table 2.It should be understood that the schedule may be adjusted to adjust thevigourish for the game.

TABLE 2 Correct 1st Set 2nd Set 3rd Set 4th Set 0 0 0 0 0 1 1:1 0 0 0 22:1 1:1 0 0 3 5:1 3:1 1:1 0 4 25:1  10:1  3:1   2:1 5 5000:1   250:1 50:1   20:1 6 1,000,000:1      10,000:1    5000:1   1000:1

The advantage according to this embodiment is that where the playersperceive they can significantly improve their win, they can surrendertheir initial win and make the second wager.

The game can be applied to Keno or other Lottery or Lottery-type games.For Keno, the game can be applied to straight or way tickets as well.For example, a player may select a straight, 8 number Keno ticket and,by viewing the matches make serial wagers for sequential 8 spot ticketsby using partial information about the outcome set gained from matchingnumbers in the selection sets. Further, as applied to Keno, the playermay change, for the second selection set, the number of numbers for theplayer selection set, e.g. for the first selection set include eightnumbers and for the second include only six numbers. However, the payschedule would be adjusted to account for the decrease (or increase) ofnumbers in the second (or successive) selection sets and may in factdictate that a selection set include a predetermined number of numbers.For example, if the first selection set included twenty numbers, theplayer may be required to include at least eight numbers in the secondselection set.

As can be appreciated the method and device are well suited for videoKeno and Lottery or Internet or wireless based Lottery or Keno whereeach player has their own outcome set for each game. The device andmethod are not suited to public, periodic draw Lotteries such as weeklystate Lotteries, inasmuch as information could be shared among playersto determine the exact composition of outcome set for the second wagers.

Still further, the game according to any version or embodiment mayinclude a separate jackpot, including a progressive jackpot, forsequential matching of all number. That is, if the player selects, forexample, 5, 9, 17, 32, 35, and 49, and those numbers are matched, duringplay of the game including successive selection sets, in order or in areverse order, the jackpot would be awarded.

The game can also be applied to other Lottery-type games where, such asa pick three (sometimes referred to as a mini-lotto), the player picksthree numbers for the field of the numbers 0-9, e.g. 3, 4, and 5, andthe outcome set includes three numbers randomly selected from the field.The present invention can be applied to a game wherein the player wagerson a 3-digit number between “000” and “999” and a variation thereofwhere the winning number is any combination of the 3-digits of theoutcome set, for example 345, 354, 435, 453, 534, or 543. Or the gamecan be applied to a mixed lottery or Keno game such as a game where theplayer is attempting to match five numbers and at the same time tryingto match a single number, i.e. two games in one. Further the game couldbe applied to a Bingo game where there are a fixed number of selectionsand the player is attempting to match a pattern on a Bingo card.

According to another embodiment, the player makes a cumulative wager,e.g. fifteen units to play three rounds of the game. The total number ofcorrectly selected numbers (hits) is noted for each round as is thepayout applicable for each round. For example, after round 1 the playermay have selected three correct numbers (three “hits”) which, accordingto the round 1 pay table, would pay the player 2:1. After the secondround the player may have four hits which, according to the second roundpay table, pay at odds of 10:1. After the third and final round theplayer may now have still only four hits which, according to the thirdround pay table pay at odds of 3:1. According to this embodiment, theplayer would receive the benefit of the most favorable pay for theentire wager, i.e. 10:1 and thus be paid 15 units (total bet)×10=150units. If instead the player had ended up in round 3 with five hitspayable, according to the round 3 pay table at 25:1, the player wouldreceive 15 units (total bet)×25=375 units.

The odds for each number of hits in each round can be adjusted to givethe house (casino/operator of the game) a desired vigourish. The paysare reduced somewhat from the cumulative situation (where the playerreceives a pay for each round based upon the round's applicable payschedule because the player is gaining the advantage of being able tochoose the best situation after any of the rounds. Table 3 below setsfourth a sample of the pay tables for the rounds:

TABLE 3 After Round 1 After Round 2 After Round 3 Hits Odds Hits OddsHits Odds 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 2   1:1 2 0 2 0 3   2:1 3   2:1 3 1:14  20:1 4  10:1 4 3:1 5 1000:1 5  100:1 5 25:1  6 100k:1 6 1000:1 62500:1  

The above table provides for a vigourish of about 6.92%. based upon afield of forty-nine numbers.

In yet another optional embodiment, matches between the selection setand the outcome set may be retained within the selection set and outcomeset in subsequent rounds. However, the unmatched members of theselection set and outcome set may be retained or discarded. For example,in one optional embodiment, the selection set may be selected at thecommencement of the game. An outcome set may be selected and any matchesbetween the outcome set and selection set may be identified. Forexample, if the selection set includes the numbers 3, 5, 17, 22, and 37,the numbers 3 and 5 may be identified to match members of the outcomeset. In one version of such a game, the player may place another wagerand all the members of the selection set, that is, both matches andnon-matches, are retained for a second round. Thus, in the exampleabove, the numbers 3, 5, 17, 22, and 37 form the selection set in asecond round. In this case, the outcome set varies, with the matchesretained and the non-matches being reselected. Thus, in the exampleabove, the numbers 3 and 5 are retained in the outcome set but the othernumbers of the outcome set are reselected. The selection set is comparedto the new outcome set, and any additional matches are identified. Sincethe matches are retained in both the selection set and the outcome set,the number of matches will either remain constant or increase with eachround. It is noted that, in an optional embodiment, the non-matchingnumbers from the outcome set may be available for selection insubsequent outcome sets. Thus, if the outcome set in a first round ofthe example included the number 44 (which did not match a member of theselection set 3, 5, 17, 22, and 37), the outcome set in a second roundof the example will be selected from a universe of numbers including 44.

In a second version of the game, the player may have the option toretain all, some, or none of the members of the non-matches in theselection set. In the example above, if the selection set includes 3, 5,17, 22, and 37, and the numbers 3 and 5 are identified as matches, theplayer may choose to retain any, none, or all of the remaining numbers17, 22, and 37. As above, the player may place an additional wager and anew outcome set would be selected for an ensuing round. Whether theplayer chooses to retain any, some, or all of the non-matching numbersin the selection set would, in an optional embodiment, not affect theoutcome set. In such an optional embodiment, the subsequent outcome setwould be selected from the entire universe of numbers, including thenon-matching numbers, regardless of whether the non-matching numbers areretained, partially retained, or discarded in the subsequent selectionset.

The games and methods according to the present invention maintainsinterest since the player can exercise strategy concerning wagering andplay. Further, the second or third wagers need not be at the same levelas the original wager; however, some relation, e.g. only doubling, maybe provided to prevent players from making minimum wagers and increasingtheir wagers when they have a sure winner.

Still further, the game can include bonus numbers, e.g. a seventhnumber, as is known for some Lotteries. A bonus pay out can be based onall six numbers being all EVEN or all ODD numbers, or if any four ormore numbers, for example, are in sequential order. The method of thepresent invention can include a pay table wherein winning numbercombinations are based on horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines, thatis three numbers on three rows or six numbers on six rows. Also thefield can be increased or decreased, e.g. 1-80 for Keno, and can bebased upon other indicia such as selecting six cards from a deck ofplaying cards, or the like. Still further, progressive jackpots may beprovided by interlinking Lottery/Keno game terminals.

Further, the game may be played as by providing the player with only theoption to place the second wager (no third wager option) or by providingadditional optional wagers, e.g. a fourth wager. For fourth orsubsequent wagers, the pay tables would be adjusted accordingly.

Still further, rather than the player selecting the indicia or numbersfor selection sets, the indicia may be selected by the processor. Forexample, the player makes a wager and the processor randomly selects theinitial (first) selection set, e.g. six numbers from a universe field offorty nine numbers. After the first comparison, if the player is goingto play a second round the processor would randomly select the indiciafor the second selection set, incorporating any matching indicia fromthe comparison of the initial selection set and the outcome set. Thusthe game may be played in any number of rounds with the processorconfigured to, for each round, carry forward any matching indicia andrandomly select the remaining for the selection set.

While certain embodiments of the present invention have been shown anddescribed it is to be understood that the present invention is subjectto many modifications and changes without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention presented herein.

1. A method of conducting a game comprising: (i) receiving a wager froma player to play the game and selecting from a universe field of indiciaa subset of indicia defining a first selection set S1; (ii) randomlyselecting from the universe field a predetermined number of indiciadefining an outcome set for the game; (iii) comparing the indicia of thefirst selection set S1 and an outcome set to determine matches and if atleast a predetermined minimum number of matches occur, issuing an awardto the player; (iv) the player selecting from the universe field asecond selection set S2, said second selection set including at leastone matching indicia determined at step (iii); (v) comparing the indiciaof the second selection set S2 and an outcome set to determine matchesand if at least a predetermined minimum number of matches occur, issuingan award to the player; and (vi) at the conclusion of the game revealingan outcome set to the player.
 2. A method for playing a game of the typewhere a player selects from a universe of numbers a subset of numbersdefining a selection set, randomly selecting a subset of numbers fromthe universe of numbers defining an outcome set, comparing the numbersof the selection set and the outcome set for matching numbers andissuing an award based upon a predetermined minimum number of matches,the method comprising: the player selecting a subset of numbers defininga second selection set including any matches from the comparison of theselection set and the outcome set; and comparing the numbers of thesecond selection set and the outcome set for matching numbers andissuing an award based upon a predetermined minimum number of matches.3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the player opting to (1)accept the award based upon the number of matches between the selectionset and the outcome set and concluding the game or (2) foregoing anyaward based upon matches between the selection set and the outcome setand selecting said second selection set.
 4. The method of claim 2further comprising permitting the player to make the selection of thesecond selection set on condition that there is at least a predeterminednumber of matches between the selection set and the outcome set.
 5. Themethod of claim 2 further comprising the player selecting a subset ofnumbers defining a third selection set, comparing the third selectionset to the outcome set for matching numbers and issuing an award basedupon a predetermined number of matches.
 6. A device for conducting awagering game of the type having a display, a processor, a data storagestoring data representing a universe of a predetermined number ofindicia, a wager input device for a player to input a wager, a datainput device for selection by a player of a subset of indicia definingan initial selection set, a prompting device for prompting play of thegame, said processor configured to, upon the input of a wager andprompting of play, randomly select an outcome set and compare theoutcome set to the selection set to determine any matching indicia andif at least predetermined number of matches occur issue an award to theplayer, said device comprising: said data input device configured forselection of a player second selection set of indicia subsequent to saidcomparison of the outcome set to the selection set, said processorconfigured to include matches from the comparison of the selection setand the outcome set in the second selection set, said prompting deviceprompting further play; and said processor configured to compare anoutcome set to said second selection set and if at least a predeterminedminimum number of matches occur, issue an award to the player.
 7. Thedevice of claim 6 further comprising said data input device configuredto provide for selection of the second selection set only upon the inputof another wager at the wager input device.
 8. The device of claim 6wherein said data stored in the data structure further comprise a firstpay table defining an award structure for the comparison of the outcomeset and the selection set and a second pay table defining an awardstructure for the comparison of the outcome set and said secondselection set.